WLC Honors Overview

The World Languages and Cultures Honors Program gives highly motivated majors the opportunity to take their studies further through advanced coursework, close faculty mentorship, and an independent honors project. Students explore a topic of particular interest in greater depth, develop valuable research and communication skills, and graduate with recognition for completing the WLC Honors Program on their permanent transcript. Becoming a WLC Honors Program student does not add extra classes to your major. Instead, necessary coursework fulfills both major requirements and Honors Program requirements.

Why Pursue Honors in World Languages and Cultures?

• Go deeper into a topic you care about. The honors project gives you the chance to investigate a question, culture, text, issue, or creative idea that genuinely interests you.
• Work closely with a faculty mentor. Honors students develop their projects one-on-one with a WLC faculty member, creating a sustained faculty relationship.
• Experience graduate-level study. Students may take a WLC graduate course as part of the program, giving them an opportunity to experience more advanced discussion and scholarship.
• Build something you can show people. A thesis or other significant project can become a strong writing sample, portfolio piece, research example, or starting point for future academic or professional work.
• Strengthen your graduate or professional school application. Honors demonstrates that you can take on an independent, long-term project, work closely with a mentor, conduct advanced research, and communicate your findings. This is all useful preparation for graduate school, law school, fellowships, and other competitive programs.
• Develop skills employers value. Completing an honors project demostrates initiative, project management, research, critical thinking, communication, and follow-through.
• Become a stronger communicator in your field. Presenting your project at a symposium, conference, departmental event, or oral examination gives you experience explaining sophisticated ideas to an audience.
• Graduate with an additional academic distinction. Completion of WLC Honors is noted on the permanent transcript, recognized in the Commencement program, and included in the Honors Convocation program.

Admission Requirements

Minimum 3.2 overall GPA

3.5 major GPA with at least 9 hours of completed coursework for the major

Program Requirements

• Complete 9 credit hours of advanced coursework that satisfies the criteria listed below. Courses must be completed with a B or better.
• Maintain a minimum 3.2 overall GPA, as well as a 3.5 GPA in major courses at the 300 or above level.
• Complete an honors project. This could be an honors thesis comprising an original research project and resultant research paper (at least 20-25 pages) or a similarly appropriate significant product of learning. This honors project will be conducted under the guidance of a faculty mentor while the student is enrolled in an appropriate WLC independent study course (see coursework requirements below). The honors project topic and criteria will be developed in conjunction with your honors project faculty mentor and approved by the World Languages and Cultures Director of Honors. A completed honors project contract will be completed with your mentor and approved by the Program Director in advance of the experience. Your thesis or project must be evaluated by your faculty mentor and a World Languages and Cultures faculty member. Students are responsible for finding a thesis advisor and proposing a research topic. Students should consult with the Honors Director to determine how best to do so.
• Present your honors thesis or project at one of the following options: (1) the NCSU Spring Undergraduate Research & Creativity Symposium, (2) a (pre-approved) local, regional or national symposium or conference; (3) an oral examination conducted by the faculty mentor and second faculty evaluator, which is open to the World Languages and Cultures department; (4) a World Languages and Cultures department brown bag.

Plan of Study

Students should work with their major advisors and the World Languages and Cultures Director of Honors to develop a plan of study. This plan must include nine hours of honors coursework, three credits from each of the following categories:  

A. One (1) section of a World Languages and Cultures senior seminar (WLxx 492) with an honors contract signed between the instructor and the student outlining the additional expectations for the course for the honors student. The WLC senior seminars are the following:

   i. WL 492 Senior Seminar in World Languages & Cultures
   ii. WLFR 492 Seminar in French Studies
   iii. WLGE 492 Senior Seminar in German Studies
   iv. WLSP 492 Seminar in Hispanic Studies

B. One (1) 300- or 400-level course in the student’s major language for which the instructor (in conjunction with the Honors Program Director) agrees to supervise an honors contract OR one (1) World Languages and Cultures graduate class (WLxx 5**, 3 credits).

C. Three credits of WL 498 Independent Study in World Languages & Cultures, during which the student will develop and prepare, create and/or write their honors project in conjunction with their honors project mentor, a faculty member approved by the World Languages and Cultures Director of Honors. The completed honors project contract and course agreement will be completed with your mentor and approved by the Program Director in advance of the experience.

Recognition of Achievement

Students who complete the WLC Honors program will be recognized in the Commencement program, the phrase “Completed Honors Program in World Languages and Cultures” will appear on students’ permanent transcripts, and their name will be in the Honors Convocation program.

Contact

Dr. Sara Zahler, Director of WLC Honors Program

[email protected]